Phase change memory device with heater electrodes having fine contact area and method for manufacturing the same

ABSTRACT

A phase change memory device includes a semiconductor substrate having a conductive region, a heater electrode formed on the semiconductor substrate and including a connection element which is composed of carbon nanotubes electrically connected with the conductive region, and a phase change pattern layer contacting the connection element of the heater electrode.

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATION

The present application claims priority under 35 U.S.C 119(a) to KoreanApplication No. 10-2008-0092222, filed on Sep. 19, 2008 in the KoreanIntellectual Property Office, which to is incorporated herein byreference in its entirety as if set forth in full.

BACKGROUND

The embodiments described herein relate generally to a phase changememory device and a method for manufacturing the same, and moreparticularly, to a phase change memory device having heater electrodesand a method for manufacturing the same.

A phase change memory device is a memory device in which information isstored using a difference in electrical conductivity or resistancebetween a crystalline phase and an amorphous phase of a phase changematerial. In the phase change memory device, memory cells are configuredsuch that they are electrically connected to switching elements, etc.formed on a semiconductor substrate, to implement addressing andread/write driving operations. In the phase change memory information isstored using a difference in conductivity owing to the phase change of amemory layer, therefore data is actually stored in the memory layerincluding phase change regions.

In a phase change memory cell current flowing through a switchingelement and the like electrically increases the temperature of a phasechange region. The variation in temperature of the phase change regionsreversibly converts the structure of a phase change material between thecrystalline phase and the amorphous phase to store information. Thestored information is read through measuring the resistance of the phasechange material by directing a low current to the phase change region.

Currently, in the phase change memory device, reduction in powerconsumption and reduction in operation current are being explored. Inorder to achieve reduction in power consumption and reduction inoperation current in the phase change memory device, it is necessaryincrease the level of integration, decrease contact resistance, andincrease heat dissipation in the phase change memory device. The levelof integration of the phase change memory device may be increased byreducing the area of a switching element for transmitting current to aphase change layer. The contact resistance in the phase change memorydevice may be reduced by sufficiently securing the contact area betweena heater electrode for directly heating the phase change layer and theswitching element. Heat dissipation in the phase change memory devicemay be increased by increasing the resistance of the heater electrodeand reducing the contact area between the heater electrode and the phasechange layer.

Recently, the area of the switching element has been reduced to someextent and the resistance of the heater electrode has been increased tosome extent because the switching element of a phase change memorydevice is implemented using a PN diode occupying a small area and aheater electrode is made of titanium nitride (TiN) or silicon germanium(SiGe) having great specific resistance.

However, the contact area between the switching element and the heaterelectrode and the contact area between the heater electrode and thephase change layer are in a trade-off relationship with respect to eachother, such that it is difficult to simultaneously reduce the operationcurrent and reduce the power consumption in the phase change memorydevice.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to one aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, thereis provided a phase change memory device comprising a semiconductorsubstrate having a conductive region; a heater electrode formed on thesemiconductor substrate and including a connection element which iscomposed of carbon nanotubes electrically connected with the conductiveregion; and a phase change pattern layer contacting the connectionelement of the heater electrode.

According to another aspect of the embodiment, there is provided amethod for manufacturing a phase change memory device. In this method,after a semiconductor substrate having a conductive region is prepared,a heater electrode having a connection element, which is composed ofcarbon nanotubes, is formed on the semiconductor substrate, and a phasechange pattern is formed to contact the connection element of the heaterelectrode.

According to still another aspect of the embodiment, there is provided aphase change memory device comprising a semiconductor substrate; aplurality of heater electrodes formed on the semiconductor substrate andeach including a first heater electrode pattern which has a groovedefined therein and possesses the shape of a cylinder and a secondheater electrode pattern which is formed on a sidewall of the firstheater electrode pattern; and a plurality of phase change patterns eachcontacting the second heater electrode pattern of each heater electrode.

According to a still further aspect of the present invention, there isprovided a method for manufacturing a phase change memory device. Inthis method, a semiconductor substrate is prepared, and a first heaterelectrode pattern having the shape of a cylinder is formed on thesemiconductor substrate. Then, a heater electrode is defined by forminga second heater electrode pattern on a side wall of the first heaterelectrode pattern to have a line width less than a line width of thefirst heater electrode pattern. Next, the heater electrode is insulated,and a phase change pattern is formed to contact an upper end of theheater electrode.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 a is a perspective view showing a heater electrode of a phasechange memory device in accordance with one embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 1 b is a plan view of the heater electrode shown in FIG. 1 a.

FIG. 2 a is a perspective view showing a heater electrode of a phasechange memory device in accordance with another embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 2 b is a plan view of the heater electrode shown in FIG. 2 a.

FIGS. 3 a through 3 d are cross-sectional views shown for illustratingthe processes of a method for manufacturing a phase change memory devicein accordance with another embodiment.

FIGS. 4 through 6 are cross-sectional views showing phase change memorydevices in accordance with embodiments of the present invention.

FIGS. 7 a and 7 b are cross-sectional views shown for illustrating theprocesses of a method for manufacturing a phase change memory device inaccordance with still another embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

Hereafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described withreference to the accompanying drawings.

First, referring to FIGS. 1 a and 1 b, a heater electrode 10 may includea first heater electrode pattern 20 and a second heater electrodepattern 40, which is formed on the first heater electrode pattern 20.

While not shown in the drawings, the first heater electrode pattern 20can be electrically connected with a conductive member of asemiconductor substrate, for example, a switching element. The firstheater electrode pattern 20 can be formed to a minimum diameterobtainable by current lithography equipment, that is, a line width thatcorresponds to a minimum feature size, i.e., a lithography limit. In thepresent embodiment, the first heater electrode pattern 20 has the shapeof a cylinder, which has a bottom and is opened at the upper endthereof. It should be understood that while a cylindrical shape has beendescribed above, the cylindrical shape is only an example among anynumber of shapes that are appropriate for the first heater pattern 20.The first heater electrode pattern 20 serves as an electrical mediumbetween the switching element and the second heater electrode pattern40, and the presence of the bottom of the first heater electrode pattern20 provides a sufficient contact area between the first heater electrodepattern 20 and the switching element. The first heater electrode pattern20 may comprise a conductive layer having high specific resistance (inthe range of 0.1 to 10 mΩcm), the conductive layer may include, forexample, any one selected from TiN, TaN, TiAIN, WN, WBN, TiSiN, WSiN,SiGe, and polysilicon layers, or a stack thereof.

The second heater electrode pattern 40 connects the first heaterelectrode pattern 20 and a phase change pattern (not shown). In thepresent embodiment, a sectional area of the second heater electrodepattern 40 may be less than that of the first heater electrode pattern20. When the first heater electrode pattern 20 has the shape of acylinder, the second heater electrode pattern 40 may also have the shapeof a cylinder, which is opened at the upper and lower ends thereof,because the second heater electrode pattern 40 is formed along an uppersurface of a sidewall of the first heater electrode pattern 20.Preferably, the second heater electrode pattern 40 is formed such that aline width 12 of the upper surface of the sidewall thereof is less thana line width 11 of the upper surface of the sidewall of the first heaterelectrode pattern 20. The second heater electrode pattern 40 formed inthis manner may comprise bundles of carbon nanotubes each having adiameter of several nanometers. As is well known in the art, the carbonnanotubes provide a contact area on a nanometer level with regard to thephase change pattern, while serving as wires having a conductiveproperty and a diameter of several nanometers.

When the second heater electrode pattern 40 comprises bundles of carbonnanotubes as described above, a catalyst layer 30 must be formed on thefirst heater electrode pattern 20 so as to selectively grow the carbonnanotubes. The catalyst layer 30 may comprise at least one of nickel(Ni), cobalt (Co), ferrum (Fe), and iridium (Y), and the catalyst layer30 may be a powder. In the present embodiment, due to the fact that thecatalyst layer 30 is formed on the entire upper surface of the sidewallof the first heater electrode pattern 20, the second heater electrodepattern 40 is formed over the first heater electrode pattern 20 whichhas the catalyst layer 30 formed thereon.

Alternatively, second heater electrode patterns 50 may be arbitrarilylocated on the first heater electrode pattern 20 as shown in FIGS. 2 aand 2 b. The second heater electrode patterns 50, which are arbitrarilylocated, can also comprise bundles of carbon nanotubes grown by usingcatalyst layers 35 as seeds. Therefore, by changing the positions andthe shapes of the catalyst layers 35, the second heater electrodepatterns 50, comprising carbon nanotubes, may be changed in their shapesin any number of ways.

As a consequence, in the heater electrode 10 according to the embodimentas shown in FIGS. 1 a and 1 b, the second heater electrode pattern 40,which has the line width 12 less than the line width 11 of the firstheater electrode pattern 20, is formed on the first heater electrodepattern 20 having a diameter no greater than the minimum feature size.Due to this fact, the heater electrode 10 contacts the phase changepattern, which will be subsequently formed, while having a line width nogreater than the lithography limit. Moreover, in the heater electrode 10according to the present embodiment, since the second heater electrodepattern 40, which is to contact the phase change pattern, comprises thecarbon nanotubes, each nanotube having a diameter of several nanometers,the contact area can be further reduced when compared to a conventionalcylinder-shaped heater electrode. According to this, a reset current fora phase change can be significantly decreased.

Hereinbelow, a method for manufacturing a phase change memory device inaccordance with another embodiment will be described with reference toFIGS. 3 a through 3 d.

Referring to FIG. 3 a, an impurity region 105 is formed in asemiconductor substrate 100. The impurity region 105 may comprise, forexample, N-type impurities. A first interlayer dielectric 110 is formedon the resultant semiconductor substrate 100. First contact holes H1 aredefined in the first interlayer dielectric by etching the first interlaydielectric 110 thereby exposing predetermined portions of the impurityregion 105. An N-type selective epitaxial growth (SEG) layer 115 a isformed through a conventional process to fill the first contact holesH1. Subsequently, a P-type SEG layer 115 b is formed by implantingP-type impurities on the N-type SEG layer 115 a. According to this, PNdiodes 115 are formed in the first interlayer dielectric 110. Next, anohmic contact layer 120 is selectively formed on the PN diodes 115. Theohmic contact layer 120 may be formed, for example, through the steps offorming a refractory metal layer (not shown) on the first interlayerdielectric 110 formed with the PN diodes 115, forming an ohmic contactlayer 120 comprising silicide by annealing the refractory meal layer,and removing the remaining refractory metal layer.

Referring to FIG. 3 b, a conductive layer (not shown) and a catalystlayer 130 are deposited on the first interlayer dielectric 110,subsequently first heater electrode patterns 125 are formed to contactthe ohmic contact layer 120 by patterning the catalyst layer 130 and theconductive layer. According to the present embodiment, the first heaterelectrode patterns 125 may comprise a conductive is layer having highspecific resistance, for example, any one selected from TiN, TaN, TiAIN,WN, WBN, TiSiN, WSiN, SiGe, and polysilicon layers, or a stack thereof.Also, the catalyst layer 130 may comprise at least one of nickel (Ni),cobalt (Co), ferrum (Fe), and iridium (Y), and the catalyst layer 130can include a metal powder layer formed using at least one of the nickel(Ni), cobalt (Co), ferrum (Fe), and iridium (Y) materials. The firstheater electrode patterns 125 may have a line width that is equal to orgreater than the diameter (line width) of the PN diodes 115. Accordingto the present embodiment, the first heater electrode patterns 125 canhave the shape of conventional patterns as shown in FIG. 3 b.

Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 3 c, first heater electrode patterns125-1 may be formed to have the shape of a cylinder. When first heaterelectrode patterns 125-1 are to be formed in the shape of a cylinder, amask pattern 135, as shown in FIG. 3 b, is formed to expose portions ofthe upper surfaces of the first heater electrode patterns 125. The maskpattern 135 may be formed to cover portions of the first interlayerdielectric 110 between the first heater electrode patterns 125 and theperipheral portions of the first heater electrode patterns 125. That is,the mask pattern 135 may be formed to cover the first interlayerdielectric 110 and the first heater electrode patterns 125, such that acentral portion of the first heater electrode patterns 125 is exposed.The mask pattern 135 may comprise, for example, a photoresist pattern.

Referring to FIG. 3 c, grooves G are defined in the first heaterelectrode patterns 125 by patterning the exposed portions of theconventionally-shaped first heater electrode patterns 125 using the maskpattern 135 as an etch mask. Through this, first heater electrodepatterns 125-1 can be formed in the shape of a cylinder, the cylinderhaving a bottom 125 a and a sidewall 125 b extending from the peripheralportion of the bottom 125 a.

The shape of the first heater electrode patterns 125-1 may be changeddepending upon the shape of the grooves G. For example, first heaterelectrode patterns 125-2 may be formed by defining grooves Ga which havereversely tapered sidewalls (i.e., the width of a groove Ga may increasefrom the top of the groove Ga to the bottom of the groove Ga such thatbottom of the groove Ga is wider than the top of the groove Ga) as shownin FIG. 4, and first heater electrode patterns 125-3 may be formed bydefining grooves Gb which have tapered sidewalls (i.e., the width of agroove Gb may decrease from the top of the groove Gb to the bottom ofthe groove Gb such that the top of the groove Gb is wider than thebottom of the groove Gb) as shown in FIG. 5. Alternatively, holes h,which have tapered sidewalls, can be formed in first heater electrodepatterns 125-4 as shown in FIG. 6. In this case, the first heaterelectrode patterns 125-4 have the shape of a cylinder which is opened atthe upper and lower ends thereof, that is, the heater electrode patterns125-4 do not include bottoms. The shapes of the grooves G, Ga, Gb, and hmay be determined depending upon selected etching method and etchantgas.

Referring again to FIG. 3 c, second heater electrode patterns 140,comprising carbon nanotubes, are formed on the sidewalls 125 b of thefirst heater electrode patterns 125-1 by using the catalyst layer 130 asa seed, the catalyst layer being positioned on the sidewalls 125 b ofthe first heater electrode patterns 125-1, which have the shape of acylinder. As is well known in the art, the carbon nanotubes are formedas wires each of which has a diameter of several nanometers and isoriented in the vertical direction, and can be formed through, forexample, any one of arc-discharge, laser vaporization, plasma-enhancedchemical vapor deposition, thermal chemical vapor deposition, vaporphase growth, electrolysis, and flame synthesis. The carbon nanotubesare grown on the sidewalls 125 b in bundles, the line width of thebundles may not be greater than the line width of the sidewalls 125 b.The bonds between molecules of the carbon nanotubes can relativelyeasily break because the carbon nanotubes have a large number of n-bondsbetween the molecules thereof. Therefore, since a large amount of freeelectrons can be generated, as is well known in the art, the carbonnanotubes can have excellent conductivity. As a consequence, heaterelectrodes 150 are formed on the semiconductor substrate 100, the heaterelectrodes 150 are composed of the first heater electrode patterns125-1, the catalyst layer 130, and the second is heater electrodepatterns 125-2, comprising carbon nanotubes.

When the first heater electrode patterns 125 are formed having theconventionally patterned structure, an additional process for changingthe shape of the catalyst layer 130 should be conducted. That is, whenthe first heater electrode patterns 125 are formed having theconventionally patterned structure a additional process for etching thecatalyst layer 130 is conducted to allow the catalyst layer 130 to belocated on the peripheral portions of the first heater electrodepatterns 125, or alternatively, as arbitrarily placed patterns, suchthat the line width of second heater electrode patterns is no greaterthan the line width of the first heater electrode patterns 125.

Referring to FIG. 3 d, a second interlayer dielectric 155 is formed onthe resultant semiconductor substrate 100, which is formed with theheater electrodes 150 including the carbon nanotubes. In order tothermally insulate the heater electrodes 150 from each other, the secondinterlayer dielectric 155 may comprise a silicon nitride layer havingexcellent thermal resistance. Subsequently, the second interlayerdielectric 155 is planarized until the upper surfaces of the heaterelectrodes 150 are exposed, that is, the upper surfaces of the secondheater electrode patterns 140 comprising the carbon nanotubes areexposed. Here, the planarization may be conducted through chemicalmechanical polishing (CMP) or other suitable process.

Thereafter, a phase change material layer (not shown) is deposited onthe planarized second interlayer dielectric 155. The phase changematerial layer may be formed of a chalcogenide compound containinggermanium (Ge), stibium (Sb) and tellurium (Te). However, the presentinvention is not limited to such a material as discussed in the aboveembodiment, that is, the phase change material may be formed of anysuitable material so long as the resistance thereof is changed byapplication of heat. A top electrode layer (not shown) is formed on thephase change material layer. The top electrode layer may include aconductive layer or a metal nitride layer, which also constitutes thefirst heater electrode patterns 125-1. Thereupon, by patterning thephase change material layer and the top electrode layer, incorrespondence with the respective heater electrodes 150, top electrodes165 and phase change patterns 160 are formed.

In the present embodiment, due to the fact that portions of the heaterelectrodes 150 which contact the phase change patterns 160 comprisecarbon nanotubes having excellent conductivity and a fine diameter, thecontact area between the phase change patterns 160 and the heaterelectrodes 150 can be significantly reduced. Moreover, since the carbonnanotubes are formed on the peripheral portions of the heater electrodes150 in the form of a ring or, alternatively, arbitrarily placedpatterns, the diameter of the portions of the heater electrodes 150which contact the phase change patterns 160 is no greater than a minimumfeature size i.e., a lithography limit, whereby reset current can besignificantly decreased.

FIGS. 7 a and 7 b are cross-sectional views shown for illustrating theprocesses of a method for manufacturing a phase change memory device inaccordance with still another embodiment. In the present embodiment, theprocesses are the same as those of the aforementioned embodiment untilthe forming of the ohmic contact layer 120, and therefore, only theprocesses after forming the ohmic contact layer 120 will be describedbelow.

First, referring to FIG. 7 a, a first conductive layer and a sacrificiallayer for heater electrodes are sequentially formed on the ohmic contactlayer 120. Then, sacrificial patterns 128 and first heater electrodepatterns 127 a are formed by patterning the sacrificial layer and thefirst conductive layer. The first heater electrode patterns 127 acontact the ohmic contact layer 120, and the line width thereof may beless or greater than the line width of the ohmic contact layer 120.Next, a second conductive layer 127 b for heater electrodes is formed onthe resultant semiconductor substrate 100 to a predetermined thickness.

Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 7 b, spacers 127 c are formed on thesidewalls of the first heater electrode patterns 127 a and thesacrificial patterns 128 by anisotropically etching the secondconductive layer 127 b until the surfaces of the sacrificial patterns128 are exposed. As a result of the anisotropic etching, an upper endsof a spacers 127 c has a pointed shape. Thereupon, a catalyst layer 130is formed selectively onto the upper surfaces of the spacers 127 c. Atthis time, since the catalyst layer 130 is formed on the spacers 127 c,which have pointed upper ends, the line width of the catalyst layer 130can further be decreased when compared to the aforementionedembodiments.

Subsequently, the sacrificial patterns 128 are removed, and carbonnanotubes are grown on the catalyst layer 130 using the catalyst layer130 as a seed so as to form second heater electrode patterns 140. As aresult of the above processes, heater electrodes 150 a are formed on thesemiconductor substrate 100.

In the present embodiment, it is possible to grow carbon nanotubes afiner line width because the catalyst layer 130 is formed on the pointedspacers 127 c.

As is apparent from the above description, in the present invention,carbon nanotubes having a diameter in the range of several nanometersare grown on a peripheral portion of a heater electrode. Accordingly,the contact area between a switching element and a heater electrode canbe sufficiently secured, and the contact area between the heaterelectrode and a phase change pattern can be reduced according to thecurrent limits in lithography methods, whereby a reset current can besignificantly decreased.

It is to be noted that the present invention is not limited to theaforementioned embodiments. For example, while it was described in theabove embodiments that the second heater electrode patterns comprisecarbon nanotubes, the present invention is not limited to such, andinstead, conductive wires having a nanometer line width may be adoptedto constitute the second heater electrode patterns.

Although exemplary embodiments of the present invention have beendescribed for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art willappreciate that various modifications, additions, and substitutions arepossible, without departing from the scope and the spirit of theinvention as disclosed in the accompanying claims.

1. A method for manufacturing a phase change memory device, comprisingthe steps of: preparing a semiconductor substrate having a conductiveregion; forming a heater electrode having a connection element on thesemiconductor substrate, wherein the connection element is composed ofcarbon nanotubes, wherein the step of forming the heater electrodecomprises the steps of: forming a conductive pattern on thesemiconductor substrate, the conductive pattern being electricallyconnected with the conductive region, wherein the step of forming theconductive pattern comprises the steps of: forming a conductive layer onthe semiconductor substrate, the conductive layer being electricallyconnected with the conductive region; forming a catalyst layer on theconductive layer; patterning the catalyst layer and the conductivelayer; and defining a groove in the patterned conductive layer byetching portions of the catalyst layer and the conductive layer; andforming the connection element on an upper surface of the conductivepattern; and forming a phase change pattern on the connection element ofthe heater electrode.
 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein theconnection element composed of the carbon nanotubes is grown on thecatalyst layer using the catalyst layer as a seed.
 3. The methodaccording to claim 2, wherein the connection element composed of thecarbon nanotubes is formed through at least one selected fromarc-discharge, laser vaporization, plasma-enhanced chemical vapordeposition, thermal chemical vapor deposition, vapor phase growth,electrolysis, and flame synthesis.
 4. A method for manufacturing a phasechange memory device, comprising the steps of: preparing a semiconductorsubstrate; forming a first heater electrode pattern having the shape ofa cylinder on the semiconductor substrate, wherein the step of formingthe first heater electrode pattern comprises the steps of: forming aconductive pattern on the semiconductor substrate; forming a catalystlayer on the conductive pattern; and defining a groove in the conductivepattern and the catalyst layer; forming a second heater electrodepattern on a side wall of the first heater electrode pattern having aline width less than a line width of the first heater electrode pattern;insulating the heater electrode; and forming a phase change pattern onan upper end of a heater electrode comprised of the first and secondheater electrode patterns.
 5. The method according to claim 4, whereinthe step of forming the second heater electrode pattern comprises thestep of: growing upwardly carbon nanotubes using the catalyst layer as aseed.
 6. The method according to claim 4, wherein the step of definingthe groove in the conductive pattern comprises the steps of: forming amask pattern on a peripheral portion of the conductive pattern to exposea central portion of the conductive pattern; etching the conductivepattern and the catalyst layer using the mask pattern as an etch mask todefine a groove therein; and removing the mask pattern.
 7. A method formanufacturing a phase change memory device, comprising the steps of:preparing a semiconductor substrate; forming a first heater electrodepattern having the shape of a cylinder on the semiconductor substrate;wherein the step of forming the first heater electrode pattern comprisesthe steps of: forming a first conductive pattern and a sacrificialpattern sequentially on the semiconductor substrate; forming a secondconductive pattern on sidewalls of the first conductive pattern and thesacrificial pattern in the form of spacers; and removing the sacrificialpattern; forming a second heater electrode pattern on a side wall of thefirst heater electrode pattern having a line width less than a linewidth of the first heater electrode pattern; insulating the heaterelectrode; and forming a phase change pattern on an upper end of aheater electrode comprised of the first and second heater electrodepatterns.
 8. The method according to claim 7, further comprising thestep of: forming a catalyst layer selectively on an upper end of thefirst heater electrode pattern.
 9. The method according to claim 8,wherein the step of forming the second heater electrode patterncomprises the step of: growing upwardly carbon nanotubes using thecatalyst layer as a seed.
 10. The method according to claim 4, whereinthe carbon nanotubes are formed through at least one selected fromarc-discharge, laser vaporization, plasma-enhanced chemical vapordeposition, thermal chemical vapor deposition, vapor phase growth,electrolysis, and flame synthesis.
 11. The method according to claim 4,wherein the step of insulating the heater electrode comprises the stepsof: forming an insulation layer on the resultant semiconductor substrateformed with the heater electrode to encapsulate the heater electrode;and planarizing the insulation layer until the second heater electrodepattern of the heater electrode is exposed.